Construction of pillars

One day I met a lady doctor in a shop. She saw my children carrying a violin (we were on our way back from their music class) and started talking to us. She herself had learnt good music under a great teacher during her school and college days. After conversing for a few minutes, she said, ‘I think, the music I learnt was a waste. I don’t sing any more’. I immediately said, ‘People who know good music can appreciate the art form better than just listeners’. She didn’t agree. She said, ‘All people speak about music today and what is great about appreciation?’ This shocked me. More people appreciating classical music is to be welcomed. Not complained about. She seemed to be disappointed about not being one of the few to be appreciating and knowing the great art form. Wrong thought.

Now, on to Natya Shastra.

Followed by the foundation stone, pillars are erected on an auspicious day with star either Rohini or Sravana. The preceptor or teacher fasts for 3 days and erects the pillars at dawn when the auspicious moment arrives. Four pillars are erected in four directions in relation with the four different varnas. After the pillars are erected, musical instruments are played, and the following prayer is chanted. "Just like the Meru mountain cannot be shaken and the Himalaya remains firm, the construction should also remain firm and unshakable. Victory be to King".

On either side of the stage, side rooms are built furnished with 4 pillars. These side rooms are given the name ‘Green rooms’ today where the artists put make-up and gets ready for the performance. Natya Shastra calls it ‘Mattavarani’. Each Green room is furnished with 2 doors.

Now comes the most important part, ‘construction of Rangapita or Stage’. Ground has to be ploughed and cleaned thoroughly. Earth or mud is to be carried in new baskets. All the workers engaged should be free from defects in their limbs. The entire stage head or surface of the stage is to be very carefully constructed. It should not resemble the convex backs of tortoise or fish. It should be as flat as the surface of the mirror. Enough for today? Fine.

Once the great ‘Madurai Mani Iyer’ was asked for a performance during the inauguration of a Sabha. Immediately he asked, ‘How much money’? The members of the sabha who had gone to meet him thought that he was talking about his fee for the concert and said, ‘How much ever you say’. Mani Iyer answered, ‘ I am not talking about my fee. I want to contribute something for your sabha. So let me know how much I should donate’. This, not only shocked them but should shock each one of us today, to think straight. Also, he recommended D.K. Pattammal for the first concert and gave his own later. Ethics, Values and Virtues should not be forgotten.

Foundation Stone for the Dramatic Hall

Just like Natya Shastra, one other important book of grammar on Natya is Abhinaya Dharpana. Most of the theory, taught in dance schools today is all based on Abhinaya Dharpana. The author is Nandikeswara. We will talk about this book or even compare it with Natya Shastra later. We will continue with the construction of dramatic hall today.

Plot will be divided after appropriate measurement. Foundation stone is laid with pomp and splendour with playing of musical instruments. Even today, playing of melam or Thavil and Nadaswara is considered auspicious in the beginning of any important event.

During the night, offerings are made to the guarding Gods. They are offered flowers, fruits, food stuffs etc. Details of what needs to be offered is also given very precisely. Offering made to the God of east should be white in colour. So, it is white cooked rice. Yellow in case of west, red in case of north, blue for south. Mantras are to be chanted in regard to the deity presiding over the different quarters.

Ghee and milk pudding should be given to scholars at the time of the foundation laying ceremony. Madhuparka, a mixture of honey, milk, ghee etc, will be given to royal personages. Rice will be given to action participants. Foundation stone should be laid during the auspicious lunar day with the constellation moola. We will see the erection of pillars in our next post.

Teachers who teach music or dance should have the ability to understand the capability level of each student and act accordingly. Some students may get it in one or two times of learning. Some may take twenty times. Teacher should have the patience to teach accordingly. Parents should understand one thing. Your child may be faster or slower than his or her friend learning from the same teacher. Do not blame the teacher if he or she  is little slow with your child. Remember, long term commitment is needed. Give your child ample time to learn and improve himself or herself. Any art form learnt will be a lifetime friend for anyone.

The Hindu's Friday review carried an article on the great S. Rajam, who was a great painter as well as a great Carnatic musician. The painting we see everywhere today of the Trinity of Carnatic music, Saint Thyagaraja, Muthuswamy Dikshidhar and Shyama Shastri is the painting created by Sri. S. Rajam. One thing which I would like to mention is, his attached importance to the concept of 'suddha swaras' or pure notes. Harmonium can be called a suddha swara instrument. Even though gamakas play the most important part in Carnatic music, too much of it makes the concert unpleasant. Little of pure or straight notes in the rendering makes it pleasing. Bye!

Play House Construction - Natya Shastra Chapter 2

I am amazed at the precision and details given in the second chapter of Natya Shastra. There are detailed specifications for building the play houses. The measurements in building these play houses are given very precisely. I am not going into too many details as it is practically difficult to follow everything today.

Three types of play houses are mentioned. Very big play houses are meant for Gods, medium ones for royal personages and the small ones for ordinary people. Very big ones are not preferred, as the dancers lose their individuality. Also, Abhinaya portrayed by dancers will not have the needed reach and effect with the viewers.

How to build a play house suited for human activity? Brahma describes in detail. First step is to examine and measure the site, where the play house needs to be constructed. Next, the soil on which the play house has to be erected should be plain, firm, hard and black or white. Then, the ground should be cleared neatly by ploughing and removing unwanted things from the soil. We will talk about details regarding measurements in my next post.

We were talking about student-teacher relationship in our previous post. The student , especially the parents should believe that the music or dance learnt is great. Long term commitment is more important than talent itself. Do not always get carried away by others' opinions. Think twice before changing the teacher. Don't act or decide in anger or in a bad mood. Wait until you can think straight.

Do not argue with the child that the teacher is always right. Explain the problem in a way they can understand. Just like them, the teacher will also commit mistakes sometimes. So, the parent should make the child understand and accept the teacher's mistake. Long term relationship is very important with the teacher. The child should be able to accept the teacher just like his or her parents.

I spoke about Odissi dance in one of my previous posts. Recently, the 10th death anniversary of the great obissi legend Kelucharan Mohapatra was celebrated in Bhuvaneswar, Orissa. Most of the odissi dancers and dance gurus today were his students. I had the opportunity long back to watch him live on stage along with his senior students. I still remember him on stage, whose movements were beyond perfection.

See you all next week.

A nut shell of the 1st chapter of Natya Shastra.

Hello every one,

Today, we will be completing the 1^st chapter of Natya Shastra. I am continuing from where I left last week. Brahma, after finishing his details about the representations in the art form, continued, by saying that praying and offering pooja to the stage is very important before starting the performance. Also, Vigneswara, Maheswara (Shiva- the Lord of dance) and Brahma (author of Natya Veda) are invoked before the performance.

The 1^st chapter in a nut shell, brings out , how the people related to Natya should be.   

1. The poet composing the literary piece should be as creative as Brahma, the creator of the Universe.
2. The sponsor and the stage manager should have the organizing ability as Indra.
3. The preceptor (teacher) should be as versatile as Bharatha himself.
4. Sons of Bharatha and the celestial Damsels can be compared to the male and female dancers respectively.
5. The instrumentalists should be as knowledgeable and experienced as Sage Svati.
6. The person in charge of music should be great like Sage Narada.
7. Last but not the least, the people who visit the theatre should have full aesthetic sense and should not have prejudices any way.

This brings us to the end of the 1^st chapter of Natya Shastra. The 2^nd chapter is about the characteristics of the Play House. We will start the fresh chapter next week.

I want to talk about problems related to the Guru or teacher. I would like to insist one point here. Popularity is different from accomplishments. So, please don’t run behind just brands while selecting a teacher. After you start your classes with the teacher, be patient in matters concerning the teacher – student relationship. Parent plays a major role in maintaining the relationship between the child and the teacher.

Just like you adjust to the problems with your school teachers, adjust to your music or dance teacher too. Just like doing your school home work, practice the art regularly. This will make your teacher feel good about you and also himself/herself.  Practice will make you improve which in turn will induce more interest which will again make you practice more. Trust your teacher thoroughly. Do not, I repeat, do not expect immediate or quick results. Long term commitment, patience and perseverance are very very important. I will speak more about this in my next week’s blog too.

This week’s ‘The Hindu’ brought to our attention that the Great dancer Bala Saraswathi’s 96^th birthday falls on May 13^th. She was called the ‘Queen of Abhinaya’. Bharathanatyam is so well known in the west now. This is mainly due to Bala. She is the only dance exponent until now who received the ‘Sangeetha Kalanidhi’ award from ‘Music Academy’, Chennai.

Characteristic Features of Natya

Namaskaram.

I have a request for my readers. Please read my blog posts in order from the first one to get the continuity in the details regarding Natya Shastra. Please post your comments, so that I will be able to correct myself in areas where I should.

Today I want to tell you about the characteristic features of the Dramatic Art as told by Brahma in Natya Shastra.

Everything, literally, everything that exists is depicted in the art form. Piety, wealth, peace, laughter, fighting, love are some to be mentioned. How does everyone get benefited through the art form? It admonishes the uncivilized and ill natured, encourages self control and discipline, makes the coward bold. The heroic ones are given more incentives, men of poor intellect are enlightened and the wisdom of the learned is enhanced.

Sorrowing people receive solace, agitated men derive composure and comfort from it. It even teaches ways to acquire wealth. In a nut shell, Natya gives encouragement, amusement and pleasure along with sound advice to every one. No wise utterance, arts or crafts is omitted or ignored in it. Vedic anecdotes, stories from mythology and history are so utilized as to give pleasure to those who witness. Brahma finally says, a close imitation of the Gods, kings and householders and their day-to-day activities represented through gestures is called Natya.

In today’s education, academics take the major role. Extra curricular activities like arts and sports are pursued as hobbies. Nothing wrong in this. One thing we should all understand is, they are not just hobbies, but also good entertainment and relaxation. So, one should make sure that they continue doing any one of these activities one way or the other for a long time in their life. You may not be a full time performer or a professional but still can be an appreciator. You can still enjoy listening, seeing or reading things related to the hobbies you like. You can continue doing it as a pass time too. This, not only gives you quality entertainment, but also makes sure the survival of the art or sport form for a very long time.

Remember. Don’t start learning an activity thinking that, it is not as important as your academics. Think it to be as essential as your school education. Believe me, it sure is. These activities are again knowledge, which will make you think straight during your tough times in life. You will become more intellectual and elite, which will help you, face life with more courage.

 

This week’s update.

Dance has reached a place where it is considered as a fashion to learn the art form. Also, money plays a major role which makes it difficult for most of the good dancers to continue performing. The sanctity of the art form has almost become extinct. I am planning to write a full blog post or more regarding this in future. Most of the dancers, even though will accept this to be true, are not ready to talk or argue regarding the issue, openly. Their indifference is purely based on individual gains. Never forget! Art form on the whole is more important than individual gains.

See you all next week.